Mike Ditka reviewed the extensive list of punishments Roger Goodell meted out to the New Orleans Saints and wondered why the NFL commissioner came down so hard.

“I think the punishment is a little severe,” Ditka said.

Saints coach Sean Payton reportedly is appealing his one-year suspension for condoning his team’s bounty system that was scheduled to begin Sunday. Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely and general manager Mickey Loomis received an eight-game penalty. The Saints also were fined $500,000 and will lose second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt also is appealing his six-game suspension.

“Sean’s a good guy; I don’t think he’s a bad guy,” Ditka said.

Payton, the first NFL coach in modern history to be suspended, reportedly could wind up forfeiting about $5.8 million of his $7.1 million salary.

Ditka does object strongly to the penalties handed down to the Saints on March 22 regarding the bounty system that allegedly was in place from 2009-2011.

“I don’t know who knew what and what they knew and when they knew it,” Ditka said. “I think that’s the problem. We don’t know that. I think the commissioner got [filtered word] off because (Payton) wasn’t straight-forward with him, that’s all.”

The emphasis, no doubt, is on the safety of players in the NFL now. Particularly in light of former players’ lawsuits against the league, the public perception and NFL message must be in sync.

Ditka says there is a longtime, league-wide history of incentives being provided to players for making exceptional plays. But not to injure an opposing player intentionally.

“There have been things for (hitting) the quarterback and ‘action’ (money) for tackles and interceptions and touchdowns and good runs. Yeah, they did that out of the ‘fine fund,’” Ditka said. “They’ve always done that. That’s not a bounty. That’s not trying to hurt some player. If you’re trying to hurt somebody, you’re a disgrace to the game, in my opinion.”

There always has been a fine line when it comes to defensive players delivering a devastating hit as opposed to possibly ending an opponent’s career.

“I understand all of that,” Ditka said.

“But, listen, the fine line has never been brought up if somebody hadn’t said: ‘Hey, we were paying to try to get somebody out of the game.’”

Payton, who once played for Ditka as a quarterback of the “Spare Bears” during the 1987 NFL labor dispute, has approached 70-year-old former NFL coach Bill Parcells about coaching the Saints next season in his absence. He was an assistant for Parcells with the Cowboys.

“I don’t know what the end result will be and whether or what in fact (the Saints) want to do,” Parcells, who has coach two Super Bowl champions, said.

“None of this has been discussed or decided. We’re a long way off. I know people are thinking, ‘There’s a deal already done.’ But really, he’s my friend.

“That’s the first thing this is about. I feel an obligation, a responsibility to help him.”

Ditka, now an NFL studio analyst for ESPN, appreciates Parcells’ sense of loyalty for even considering Payton’s request.

“If Bill wanted to do it for a year, I think it would be the greatest thing in the world, but I don’t know if he does,” Ditka said.

Ditka, who led the Bears to the Super Bowl XX title and a 106-62 record during 11 seasons, finished his coaching career with the Saints from 1997-99, where he was 15-33.

Asked if he ever would consider returning to coaching under similar circumstances as Parcells, Ditka, 72, said: “No, no I wouldn’t. But Bill is different than me. I wouldn’t, no.”